50 million: Dollars to be spent on off-site transportation improvements to offset traffic from the project, which would generate an average of 52,332 daily car trips.

MISSION VALLEY

Praising a Mission Valley project as a model for future growth, the City Council yesterday approved a massive development that eventually will bring nearly 5,000 new homes to the community.

Quarry Falls is to be built west of Interstate 805 and north of Friars Road on the site of a rock quarry that has been there for more than 60 years.

The San Diego City Council voted 7-1 in favor of the project, with Councilwoman Donna Frye dissenting. Frye represents the district where Quarry Falls is to be built.

Frye had some praise for the plan offered by Sudberry Properties – “I wish it was the first project in Mission Valley,” she said – but ultimately her concerns, including questions about promised transportation improvements, carried more weight, despite assurances from one of the developers.

“We don't have any plans to fail on our obligations . . . ,” said Marco Sessa, a vice president with Sudberry.

Frye also refused to support the study of an extension of Phyllis Place, a road that would provide a link through Serra Mesa to the freeway. She feared it would force some of Mission Valley's traffic congestion into Serra Mesa, just to the north, a concern shared by residents.

“I don't think it's the proper thing to do,” Frye said.

In supporting Quarry Falls and more analysis of the road extension, the remainder of the council lavished praise on the project.

They credited the developer for reaching out to the Mission Valley and Serra Mesa communities, where planning groups backed most of the project. They also cited the pedestrian-friendly design, proximity to the trolley and inclusion of parkland as reasons for their support.

“All of those things have convinced me that is the project you would want here,” said Councilman Tony Young, who represents the city's southeastern communities.

“I'm just envious that this precedent wasn't set in my district,” said Councilman Ben Hueso, whose district extends from Barrio Logan to San Ysidro.

Quarry Falls will be built in phases; the first will include up to 1,700 residences, parts of the park and about 10 percent of the commercial development. The entire project will take 15 years to complete.

More than 130 people attended the meeting. Supporters outnumbered opponents 4-to-1, and included representatives from environmental and smart-growth groups.

The opponents challenged assertions that residents of Quarry Falls would use public transit and reduce car trips in Mission Valley, and questioned whether environmental review of the project had been proper. They also asked the city to delay consideration of the matter.

At the conclusion of the nearly four-hour hearing, Thomas Sudberry, who founded Sudberry Properties, thanked council members for their decision.

“I hope 15 years from now you look back on this vote and say you did the right thing,” Sudberry said.